Reporter’s Notebook -- June Casagrande

Lisa Simpson, delicately trying to explain Oedipus complex to Homer,

says: “You remember Oedipus, don’t you? He killed his father and married

his mother.”

Homer and I answer in unison, “Yeesh! Who pays for that wedding?”

Homer and I speak in unison a lot. A lot. Just as I do with Marge,

Lisa, Bart, Ralph Wiggum, Edna Krabapple, Otto Mann and every other

“Simpsons” character.

Normally, I’m one of those people who thinks television is like a

nitrous tank accelerating the demise of society -- most of it pure,

poisonous brain candy that reduces our critical-thinking skills to so

many howls and grunts of a Jerry Springer audience.

But every insightful, cogent argument I can make against tuning in and

zoning out goes straight into the commode when it comes to the

“Simpsons.” I’m a junkie, big time. I tape the reruns. Three of them a

night. Usually, they’re the same ones I’ve seen three, four, five and (no

kidding) six times. They’re my soma. My drug of choice.

Being in general a non-TV person, I’m not very good at being a fan. I

don’t have cable. I don’t follow Hollywood news, buy animation cels, or

learn the names of writers and producers. Fandom, to me, isn’t

scholarship or an expertise. I just watch. And watch and watch and watch.

As a result, in most episodes, I can often recite the next line before

the character speaks it. At first this impresses friends, then it annoys

them, then it causes them to scour the Yellow Pages looking for listings

like: “Animation addiction, inpatient treatment and recovery centers.”

In my defense, I should say that this show is the best thing to ever

happen to humanity up to and including the Enlightenment. The show has

just finished its 13th season and has received 35 Emmy nominations, and

17 wins, as well as Outstanding Animated Program awards five times and

best animated voice-over performance honors.

So imagine how I felt when last week, Dan Castellaneta, the voice of

Homer Simpson, agreed to my request for a 15-minute phone interview in

advance of his Costa Mesa appearance Saturday. He will be at the Borders

Books, Music & Cafe in South Coast Plaza signing copies of his new comedy

CD, “I Am Not Homer!” -- a compilation of comedy sketches with wife Deb

Lacusta.

The title, he explained, is a tonge-in-cheek play on Leonard Nimoy’s

book, “I Am Not Spock” -- a lighthearted reference to his unusual form of

fame.

“I have international superstardom and complete obscurity,” said

Castellaneta, whose speaking voice betrays not a hint of the

beer-guzzling buffoon he helped birth.

Most of Castellaneta’s fans don’t recognize him walking down the

street as the heartbeat of some of the best comedic characters ever

created -- Homer, Krusty the Clown, Barney Gumble, Grampa Simpson, Arnie

Pie (a favorite of mine), Groundskeeper Willie, Hans Moleman and others.

Some, of course, do recognize him.

“When they yell, ‘Hey, Homer,’ I just keep walking,” Castellaneta

said.

One fan got even more familiar, Castellaneta explained as I tried to

make convincing “tsk, tsk” noises about how silly fans can be.

A man mailed to Castellaneta a couple of “Simpsons” items to autograph

-- Homer dolls and the like. Castellaneta autographed them and mailed

them back.

“A while later, I got in the mail a box of like 20 or 30 things he

wanted me to sign and a check for $50 -- as if he figured I’d go into

business with him,” Castellaneta said. “No thanks. I have a job.”

I ran with the theme, playing the aloof, worldly journalist immune to

stardom and disgusted by anyone who isn’t.

“Are fans always doing things like singing the Max Power song or

‘shaving my shoulders”’?

“No, I wish they did that. The ones who recognize me usually just do

things like yell, ‘Hey, Homer!’ When they do that, I just keep walking.”

Then, in his Homer voice, he sang the two lines he ad-libbed for a

scene in which Homer is shown from behind, razor in hand, strategically

placed patches of shaving cream on his shoulders.

Softly, giddy, I sang along in unison.

FYI

WHAT: Dan Castellaneta will sign copies of his sketch comedy CD “I Am

Not Homer!”

WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Borders Books, Music & Cafe, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .